Car export in 2011 to expand by 7-12%

BANGKOK, 9 January 2011 (NNT) – Kasikorn Research Center (KResearch) has estimated that the nation’s automobile export will expand by 7-12% in 2011 compared to last year’s thanks to the government’s support of the production of eco cars.

The Center has predicted that around 1.78-1.86 million cars will be manufactured in Thailand in 2011; 970,000-1,015,000 of which will be for export. According to the Center, the production for export, which accounts for 55 percent of the overall production, will be the main driving force of the auto industry. With the export trend being on the rise, Thailand could manufacture 2 million cars in 2012 as projected earlier.

After the government has increased its support of the production of small cars, especially the energy-saving vehicles, for city dwellers, many automobile brands have developed a number of new models, giving consumers a variety of choices; in line with the global eco-car trend. As Thailand is an automobile manufacturing base in Southeast Asia, it should be ready to concentrate on its human resource development in anticipation of the inevitable advent of new technologies, the Center concluded.